Actor Prithviraj Sukumaran has spoken about the challenges of portraying the antagonist Kumbha in the upcoming film Varanasi, calling it one of the most complex roles of his career.
In an interview with Collider, Prithviraj said the physical limitations of the character pushed him to rethink his approach to performance.
Kumbha is wheelchair-bound, which meant most of Prithviraj’s body language was not visible on screen. The actor said this restriction forced him to rely entirely on facial expressions and eye movement to convey emotion. He explained that actors often depend subconsciously on their entire body as a communication tool, but in this case, everything had to be expressed through the face.
Prithviraj also spoke about the layered nature of the character, saying none of Kumbha’s emotions are simple or one-dimensional. He noted that every line and action is shaped by the character’s past, adding depth and subtext to the role. This emotional complexity, he said, was what made the character exciting and demanding to play.
Reflecting on his collaboration with director SS Rajamouli, Prithviraj described the experience as creatively fulfilling. He said Rajamouli’s clarity and focus on how each character should appear on screen created a disciplined and distraction-free environment, which he called a blessing for actors.
The recently released teaser of Varanasi has generated strong anticipation. It features sweeping drone shots of the city, visuals of the asteroid Sambhavi impacting different parts of the world, and ends with Mahesh Babu as Rudhra, riding a bull and holding a trishul.
The film also stars Priyanka Chopra as Mandakini and is scheduled for release on April 7, 2027.